PML-N, MQM make 1st contact

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD Senior PML-N leader Senator Ishaq Dar has confirmed that his party was in contact with all political parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, to form a grand opposition alliance. While talking to newsmen at the Lahore International Airport on return from Dubai on Monday, he suggested that bitter memories of the past should be buried to save the country. To him, at least part of the solution to current problems facing the country lay in forming an efficient and active opposition. Current situation demands that all political parties should work together and give sacrifices, he said, adding that it was unfair to follow the agenda of personal interests in the name of national interests. As per sources, Ishaq Dar had held a meeting with deputy convener of the MQM, Dr Farooq Sattar. According to sources, the two leaders discussed the MQMs decision to join the opposition and the possibility of initiating contact between the two parties. Sources added that the MQM and PML-N had been in contact since the last week and it is expected that leaders of both parties would meet in Pakistan during the next 24 hours. Sources have also confirmed that resigned Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, an MQM man, and Dar had also met in Dubai to discuss the emerging politic scenario. Now it is expected that Dar will meet PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif and brief him about meeting with the MQM leader, confided the party sources, while not offering further comments regarding Dars meetings with the MQM leaders. However, it has also been learnt that the N-League had entrusted responsibility to Ishaq Dar for contacting the MQM regarding formulation of a grand opposition alliance, and furthering the dialogue process. Amid fast changing political scenario in the country, both the parties are ostensibly seen shifting gears to reopen new channels for the purposed opposition alliance that indicates tough times ahead for the incumbent government. There were confirmations from multiple sources that the senior political leaders from both the sides have not only held meetings in Dubai but also in London. Talking to TheNation, PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq said that personally he was not aware about the meetings between two parties leaders. To a question about grand opposition alliance, he said that all these things depend upon the circumstances. However, sources insisted that party-level discussions to play as strong opposition group from both the sides were underway. It is also noteworthy that the tone and tenor of the both the parties members has been quite changed soon after the major development when MQM quitted government and the widening gaps are fast filling with each passing day. When contacted, MQM leader Wasay Jalil said that the seriousness MQM to play as a vibrant opposition party could be judged as it has submitted its applications to sit on opposition benches in the National Assembly, the Senate and the Sindh Assembly. We are all set to play as positive opposition group and party level contact with other opposition parties are obvious, he added. It is relevant to mention here that the MQM has 51 seats in Sindh Assembly, 25 members in National Assembly and six in Upper House and PML-N has 90 MNAs in the National Assembly (NA). Asif Mehmood adds from London: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar met 'informally in London on Monday and exchanged views on the political situation in Pakistan. However, MQM Media In charge Mustafa Azizabadi told TheNation that although the PML-N leaders were inviting various parties to the grand opposition alliance, they made no 'formal contact with the MQM for the purpose. According to Mr Azizabadi, the issue of grand alliance did not come under discussion at the meeting between the two leaders. He also denied reports that former Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad had met PML-N leader Ishaq Dar in Dubai a night before. The informal contact between Farooq Sattar and Shahbaz Sharif took place at a luncheon hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association, where some British parliamentarians were also present. Senators Raza Rabbani, Abdul Malik, Afrasiab Khattak, Wasim Sajjad, Dr Farooq Sattar, and MNAs Pervaiz Malik, Khurran Dastgir Khan and Baleeghur Rehman were also present. Addressing the meeting, the Punjab chief minister said drone attacks were violating Pakistans sovereignty, which were not only killing innocent people but also promoting militancy. He called for an end to these attacks.